Lung Cancer

[heather_MI]

my 74 year old dad was recently diagnosed with adenocarcinoma that has metasticized to his brain. he is having so many problems. dad and mom are so discouraged and frightened. they aren't getting help or answers from the docs. my dad is frustrated and is nearly refusing going back to the hospital because they don't seem to have answers and he's feeling like a guinea pig. he's gone through radiation and will get results from his mri to see how the radiation worked 4-8. they want to start chemo after that.
the most recent problem and major "scare" for him and my mom was this morning. my dad couldn't focus and mom said his eyes were movign uncontrollably. . she wanted to take him to the emergency room but he said no. she gave him keppra (seizure med) and after time, he seemed to feel better. it doesn't sound like any kind of seizure i've heard of. it sounds like the cancer may be doing something to the optic nerve. he has frequent headache. sometimes very painful. my mom gives him tylenol. he had major side effects from the keppra and our family doc said we could wean him off. the family doc is not the oncologist though. he doesn't seem to be an "expert". my dad felt so miserable though and not strong enough to start chemo so i think they felt it was worth the risk. we need help and answers. he's going downhill fast. any help is appreciated!!

[PAM PRUETT]

Hi. I also have adenocarcinoma. Has not metasticized to the brain, thank goodness.
I would tell your father and anyone else to change doctors if he isn't comfortable with the one he has. I have changed doctors 3 times. I would like to know the symptoms he has had with the brain.
Thanks,
Pam

[heather_MI]

His symptoms are blurred vision...no vision in certain areas, trouble with his eye muscles, headaches, trouble walking, trouble sleeping, difficulty concentrating.

[GigiNYC]

My 75 y.o. mom has adenocarcinoma that has met to the brain recently. She is currently undergoing radiation therapy for that now. She hasn't experienced any of the difficulty you dad has, although it does give us answers to her poor lack of judgement, at times. She's doing well. She hasn't done as well with the IV chemo. She was on Tarceva fro a year before she was changed to IV chemo. IT makes her weak so we're no sure if she's a good candidate for chemo, as yet.

Her physicians are open and up front, so we are comfortable with that. This web site has afforded us a lot of answers as well as talking to others we know who has cancer. Of course you only hear the bad, but there are survivors of lung cancer. I hold to this belief as does my mom. Attitude is everything. Get the support you need for yourself and your parents. And if you need to changes physicians, do so.

God bless you and your family.